How much to spend?

Your banner will likely be with you for a long time, so don’t be shy about spending a few extra dollars to get the one you really want, instead of the cheapest one. After a season of craft shows you won’t remember the extra $20, but if your banner is too small / cheaply made, you’ll feel it at every show.

Consider how long you’re likely to use your banner. If you have a consistent style/branding, it’ll be worth it to get something on the nicer, more expensive end of things. If you’re still working things out, don’t go all out quite yet. Get something that fits your needs, but wait on ordering that hand quilted custom printed vintage fabric banner until you’re sure you’re going to use it next year.

Horizontal or Vertical?

Decide how you’ll want to orient your banner. Horizontal banners are more common, and can be stretched across a tent or table. Vertical banners are meant to hang down, and generally hang from the back of your tent or a small flagpole.

Horizontal banners are a bit more versitile, but vertical ones give you a little more space for text. If you plan on hanging your banner from a banner pole sticking out of your tent, check with the show organizers first to make sure its OK.

Pennant Banners are quick and inexpensive to make. They can be made to fit any width table or tent without spending a lot on materials, and fold up tiny for easy transport. They’re better suited for businesses with short names, as each letter is placed on its own scrap of fabric.

Don’t like triangles? Your letters can be any shape. Try to resist the urge to go nuts with fabric colors. You want people to be able to read your name, even at a distance, so stay away from busy patterns and use nice thick lettering.

Fabric Banners

A well made fabric banner can last for years. And if you make it out of a washable material like cotton they’re a snap to clean up after a rainy show.  Fabric banners range from inexpensive appliques you can do at home, to professionally quilted and custom printed masterpeices.

Pick a style and construction method that fits your work. For example, if you make something with a modern, clean style, a traditional quilted banner might not convey that well. And if you want a fabric banner but aren’t in the mood for all the cutting/sewing associated with applique, and aren’t much of a painter, you can have your banner printed by a service like Spoonflower (make sure you select upholstry weight fabric).  Fantastic Toys has a great banner printed by them.

Vinyl Banners

Vinyl is the most common banner material, and with good reason. It’s water proof, can be printed in millions of colors, and rolls up easily for storage.

Most vinyl banners come grommeted (the holes on the corners), making it easy to hang them. If you know you’re going to be using your banner with a tent, you can skip the grommets and instead attach velcro  to the back. Stick the other side of the velcro strips on your tent, and you’ll have an easy to use removable banner.

Keep your vinyl banner design simple, don’t overload it with text. You can order a banner from most local print shops, or online. Some printers, such as Wilson Graphics, cater specifically to the craft show market.

Design and Style

Resist the urge to overload your banner with text and graphics. Too much text becomes hard to read, and busy graphics can detract from what the buyer should be looking at: your booth. In general, avoid putting product photos on your banner, unless you know you’re going to stick with that item for as long as you use your banner.

Consider coordinating your business cards and other materials with your banner. Creating uniform branding can make your booth more memorable, and help sales in the future.

Got more banner tips? Share them in the comments below!

Most of the suggestions are probably things you’ve heard before (but a reminder is always good). The one which stuck out in my mind as good advice was “know your market.” A show which may be fantastic for a fellow vendor may not be such a good fit for your wares.

Read the full article over at Etsy.com.

[via The Storque]

Aside from going for typographic simplicty some new research indicates it may be an effective way to get people to spend more. Supposedly, removing the dollar sign and standard two-decimal-places formatting helps remove the association with money spent.

While the study refers to restaurants, the same thinking might apply to craft shows. Ditching the dollar sign (or currency symbol) may subconciously lead people into buying more. Or maybe it’s just the latest pop psychology hooey. What do you think?

[via The Consumerist]

Canopy Tent

This is one of the biggest investments in your setup, so choose wisely.
Some shows require a white tent and while you may not be doing any of those specifically white is generally the way to go. No matter what you do with your branding your white tent will match. Stay away from anything that looks like it belongs at the beach – it’ll make your booth look odd and out of place.

Check to see if the tent you’re buying has removable sidewalls. If it doesn’t, bring a few clear shower curtains and clothespins along with you (a tip we got from Crystal J) to use in case of rain. They’re cheap, small, and come in extremely handy in the event of bad weather. You can pick one up on Amazon, but you’ll probably find a better deal at your local dollar store. Clear sides are preferable to opaque ones as they let people see into your booth better.

If you can’t find a tent locally, Amazon.com has some nice white ones for under $120 including shipping, but we haven’t tested them out. If anyone has tried this particular tent, leave us a comment!

Tables

Tables are available in a dizzying array of shapes, sizes, and materials. What’s best for you will depend on the type of shows you do, what you’re selling, and how you plan to transport it all.

For vendors who don’t have a lot of cargo space, center-folding tables are a great option. These tables fold in half for easy transport and storage.

Consider what size tables you want. Indoor shows tend to have a little less space, so one 6′ or 8′ table should do the trick. Outdoor shows give you more room to set up your “store” so you may prefer two or three 4′ tables to one big one, arranged however you see fit.

Inexpensive camping tables will work for light use, but tend to warp and look uneven at the seam with extended use. Look for tables made of resin. They’ll cost more but will last much longer.

Here are a few to get you started:

6′ Resin Center Fold Table
5′ Coleman Center Fold Table

If you’ve got the room, a table without a center seam will be more durable than hinged ones – it has one less moving part to break. Again if you’re planning on doing a lot of shows look for resin tables – they’re lightweight and durable. Particle board and vinyl tables are inexpensive, but a bit heavier and the vinyl tends to get torn up over time.

A few basic models are available at Amazon, but you may prefer to shop locally to get a feel for the dimensions of the tables.

4′ Plastic/Resin Folding Table
4′ Particle Board / Vinyl Folding Table

Bed Risers

Raising your table up a few inches can give your booth a visual boost. Bed risers are an inexpensive solution. They’re sold at most stores that carry linens, or you can pick them up online. Look for risers that will stack within themselves for travel.

Make sure your tablecloth is big enough to compensate for the extra few inches! Don’t let your table look like it’s preparing for a flood.

If you’ve found a craft-show must have at a great price, let us know in the comments!

Cash Box

Vintage cash box from jeantyson.etsy.com

Tried and true, the cash box remains a perennial favorite. It’s big, its square, it means business, and it might even have a lock. Cash boxes generally (but not always) have little compartments for each denomination and a place in the bottom to throw checks, credit card slips, and coins. These days they’re available in colors besides olive green… but why mess with a classic?

The downside to cash boxes is they can be cumbersome and heavy. The plus side is that they make a great sturdy base to anchor your credit card machine to. The smooth metal surface is perfect for the suction cup feet found on most knucklebusters.

Cash Pouch

Textured checkers wallet by HazelHoney

Cash pouches are great for craft shows because they’re light, flexible, and available in every design imagineable.

Look for pouches with either a velcro or zipper enclosure to keep your cash safe. If you tend to deal with a lot of coins at shows opt for zippers. Bags with wrist straps are handy, you can keep them close by while your hands are free to do other things (like run the knucklebuster).

Sara / Girls Can Tell keeps two zipper pouches – one for small bills for making change and the other for 20s – so people don’t see her rifling through wads of cash.

Craft Apron

Vendor apron by linwoodavenue.etsy.com

If you want to have your cash handy while also looking fashionable (at least in the craft show sense) pick up a craft apron. Craft aprons have tons of pockets, so you can store change in one, small bills in another, and still have your 20s hidden away in yet another pocket. Of course, then you have to remember what’s where! They’re also great for keeping pens and business cards handy.

Aprons come in a variety of styles, from a small flap that ties around your waist to a half apron that hits just above your knees… all the way up to a full bib.

Of course if worst comes to worst you can always just shove your wad o’ bills in your jeans pocket… but hopefully it won’t come to that. Got a favorite way of storing your craft show cash, or some great handmade cash boxes / aprons? Leave us a link in the comments!

Got a canopy that likes to collect pools of water, only to dump them on unsuspecting customers head at a crucial moment? Yeah, we’ve all been there.

The Artsy Crafter has an effective and cheap trick for preventing the dreaded roof-puddle – using hula hoops! Read the full article for more details.

[Via The Artsy Crafter]

There are some things you can do to present yourself a little better though! These tips are all about applying to the Crafty Bastards show in DC, but it’s good advice for any show application!

Read the full article over on the Crafty Bastards blog.

• Head to the bank for cash early in the week – don’t wait ’till the Friday or Saturday before the show as you may forget and most banks have limited hours (if they’re open at all) on the weekends.
• Keep your till – including cash – with the rest of your craft show setup, even between shows. That way you’ll never have to worry about forgetting it; you can just top it off before each show
• Consider the price of your items. Think about what bills people are most likely to pay with. If most of your prices end in 0 or 5 you’ll want a lot of tens and fives. If your prices end in 8 or 9 you’ll be doling out a lot of ones.
• Many of your customers are coming straight from the ATM, so be prepared for a lot of 20s

Our readers suggested between $50 and $100 to start your till off. Start with $30 – $50 in ones and split the rest evenly between 5s and 10s. Depending on your prices you might even be better off with all ones and fives, but it’s the sort of thing you’ll need to try a few times to get the hang of.

If you do end up in a situation where you’re at a show without change, don’t fret. There are a few last minute tricks. If there’s a coffee shop or convenience store nearby grab a coffee or snack for later and pay with an ATM-fresh 20. If possible see if they can give you more ones with your change. Check with other vendors to see if anyone can make change – and offer to get them a cup of coffee or something in return for the favor.

Next week we’ll cover options for holding your cash, and there’s a ton out there. If you’ve got any tips or tricks you’d like to share on the cash-management front, email us at blog@indiecraftshows.com.

1. Raise your tables. I did this using bed risers from Bed Bath & Beyond.
2. Make sure your table covers reach the floor. This gives it a finished look and hides your storage boxes. My covers are actually long strips of fabric wrapped around the tables and duct taped (I duct tape, velcro and hot glue EVERYTHING lol). Then I added black fabric panels to the table tops.
3. Have multiple levels. This serves several purposes. It allows more merchandise to be displayed in a small area. It adds visual interest. It brings your product to the eye level of the shopper.
4. Make sure there is visual contrast between your display colors and your product so your merchandise will stand out.
5. Lots of light. (This may be more important for jewelry than anything else. We need that sparkle!) A well lit display will attract more attention than one that just blends in with the others. If the venue charges more for electric, pay it.
6. You must have a sign and/or banner. Make it visually similar to your other marketing materials. I had a woman come looking for me and she recognized my sign because it is the same style and colors as my business cards. In fact, the look of your display, Etsy shop and marketing materials should all tie together well.
7. If you want to sit, sit high! Get a bar height director’s chair so you will always be at eye level of your buyers.
8. Space permitting, have a separate small pay-out table. This moves the buyer away from the front of the display so others can move in to look. It also allows for a wrapping area if necessary. I keep my mailing list sign-up book there. While I write up the receipt and package the purchase, the buyer can sign up for future event notifications.
9. If you accept credit cards (and you should) have a sign saying so. I’ve had people stop at my booth simply because they could use their Visa with me.
10. This is an odd tip I’m just gonna throw in to make an even 10: At outdoor shows I always have a bowl of wrapped candies, but I also bring dog treats. So many people bring their dogs everywhere they go and always appreciate the thought. Also, if you have a friendly dog hanging around it attracts other dog lovers to your tent!

Lately I’ve been trying to calculate the cost of free. Specifically in the stuff I give out to promote my business, Tinysaur.

A lot of craft shows give out swag bags full of goodies to the first n number of shoppers, and in theory it’s a way to get some “free” advertising. Free as in you didn’t have to pay anyone else for the placement, but it still costs you the time/materials to make the promos.

I’m sending out samples rather than promos. There’s a big difference between the two, and I think it’s an important one that’s often overlooked.

Promos are little slips of something with your contact information on it. Business cards, buttons, magnets, etc. They don’t really do anything, and frankly I’m not convinced that sending them out carte-blanche is really worth the effort. All those things are pretty cheap, comparatively, but they’re not free. You still have to design/print/ship them, and most of them will end up going straight into the trash.

Save your promos for people who are already interested. Add them to your outgoing orders, give them out at craft shows, but don’t think that throwing them in a gift bag with 100 other promos is going to get you much “free advertising.”

Samples are a different beast entirely. Samples are just that: a sample of your product. Something that gives people a real idea of what it is you make, and why they might want to buy it. It took me a while to come up with a decent idea for a sample. They need to be cheap enough that you can affort free, but nice enough that someone will want to look at them.

For two upcoming shows, Not Yo Momma’s Craft Fair and Spring Bada-Bing, I’m sending dinosaur skulls. Little sample packs of just the Tinysaur head, pulled from T-Rex and Triceratops. I figure it’s just enough for people to see how small the peices are, punch them out, etc, but still leave them wanting more.

The samples are pretty cheap, but there are still some real costs associated with them. I have to pay per-minute for laser time, and while the plastic bags / tags are *practically* free on a per-promo basis, the time it takes to assemble it all adds up. Sure, I don’t have to front any cash for it, but it’s time I could be doing something else, either for my business or for myself.

I think it’s important not to mix up “free” and “worthless.” If you’re giving things out, make sure they’re things with some value to them. Information people want, things people can try out, something that will actually get looked at before heading to the recycle bin.